Nightmares can serve as an emotional release from anxiety that may be weighing on our minds; in fact, they’re normal reactions to stress we’ve been experiencing. Around 85 percent of adults report having at least one nightmare in the past year, while 8 to 29 percent of us have monthly nightmares. “Nightmares in the first few weeks after a traumatic event have not been associated with health problems,” reported CNN’s Carinna Storrs.One study illustrates that more than 20 percent of women who were victims of sexual or physical assault were experiencing nightmares about the event three months later.
However, there’s no doubt that recurring nightmares also may cause fatigue.
In this article, we’ll explore the common causes for recurring nightmares, as well as treatment options for some of the underlying conditions.Nightmares can occur for a number of reasons, but here are five of the most common. Recurring nightmares mean that you have frequent nightmares that are either exactly the same content, or unfold with similar themes. However, they do often reflect fears or obsessions.According to Dreams.co.uk, the 10 most common bad dream themes are:If nightmares are recurrent enough, they can develop into what’s known as “nightmare disorder.” The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Disorders defines nightmare disorder as “repeated awakenings with recollection of terrifying dreams, usually involving threats to survival, safety, or physical integrity.”Nightmares aren’t the same as night terrors. For now, here’s what we do know about these “stories” that play out in our minds while we sleep: They’re “lengthy, elaborate dreams with imagery that evokes fear, anxiety, or sadness,” as Nightmares are unique to each of us, they’re personal, and they’re so fleeting that we often don’t remember much about them. 2. A sleep study is a test that’s commonly performed at an overnight testing facility. The latter condition, more common in children, is characterized by screaming, thrashing, and panic. Either way, those startling dreams beg the question, “What causes nightmares?”It would help to understand what nightmares are. A person may experience extreme agitation, such as flailing about, screaming, or even sleepwalking. Although nightmares and night terrors may seem similar, they’re quite different experiences.
Sometimes, this cause can be related to stress or anxiety, medication use, or even substance abuse.If you feel that recurring nightmares are affecting your quality of life, reach out to a doctor or mental health professional.
Nightmares are scary, vivid dreams that usually cause the person to awaken immediately. However, outside of PTSD, it’s rare for medication to be used in the treatment of recurring nightmares.One of the ways you can reduce recurring nightmares is to create healthy sleep habits by improving your bedtime routine.When you experience recurring nightmares, you may find it difficult to fall back asleep again. Recurring nightmares usually have an underlying cause.
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, over 50 percent of adults report having occasional nightmares. And we don’t necessarily outgrow them. In nightmares, we feel like we have no control over the imaginary scenes that are playing out, but they’re just that: imaginary. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only.
Certain medications, such as antidepressants, blood pressure medications, and other drugs used to treat specific conditions, can cause nightmares. When you doze off, you’ll typically move through Roughly every 90 minutes, you enter what is often referred to as the fifth stage of sleep, which is rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. More brain activity during the REM sleep leads to bad dreams and nightmares.